Brazil’s Cities Raise Bus Fares for 2026 as Rio Sets R$5 and Salvador Reaches R$5.90

Overview

• Rio de Janeiro’s passenger fare is now R$5, with the contractual remuneration fixed at R$6.60 and a R$1.60-per-trip gap covered by a municipal subsidy based on IRK calculations.
• São Paulo’s bus fare rises to R$5.30 on January 6, with Bilhete Único users allowed to preload by January 5 to keep paying R$5 for up to 180 days, capped at R$500 for common cards and R$1,000 for vale-transporte.
• Salvador’s new fare of R$5.90 takes effect with a stated push for fleet renewal, including a R$264 million BNDES-backed purchase of 300 buses and a plan to deliver 700 air‑conditioned vehicles this year.
• Greater São Paulo municipalities began 2026 with higher prices, with cash fares reaching R$6.40 in Ribeirão Pires, R$6.30 in Itaquaquecetuba, and R$6.20 in Guarulhos, while other cities held or are still reviewing tariffs.
• State-regulated intermunicipal lines see increases from January 6, as Artesp authorizes EMTU adjustments averaging roughly 4%–5% in regions such as the Vale do Paraíba and Sorocaba, with specific routes posting updated values.